Border 2025
United States-Mexico
Environmental Program
Highlights Report
Summer 2024
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Highlights Report Summer 2024
Table of Contents
National Coordinators' Message 4
Foreword 5
GOAL 1: Reduce Air Pollution 7
Air Quality, Transportation, and Environmental Justice Analysis in Mexicali 7
Impact of Nava, Coahuila Coal-fired Plant Emissions 8
Strengthening Mexican Emissions Inventories in Baja California and Chihuahua 9
Air Sensors Training 10
Binational Collaboration: Key to Improve Air Quality in the Paso del Norte Region 11
Inauguration of the new Air Quality Monitoring Site of the Juarez Network 12
85TH Meeting of the Joint Advisory Committee (JAC) 12
Two-day Workshop on Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) for Air Quality Data 13
Current Ongoing Air Quality Projects in Border Communities: 14
GOAL 2: Improve Water Quality 17
Pre-treatment of Wastewater with Heavy Metals and Reuse in Nogales 17
Binational Trainings for Sediment Pollution Retention in Sonora and Arizona 18
Developing Wastewater Reuse Design on Cocopah Tribal Lands 21
Goodenough Spring Catchment Area Characterization, Amistad Reservoir, Rio Grande Valley 22
Binational Agreements to reduce Transboundary Water Pollution in San Diego and Tijuana 23
Current Ongoing Water Quality Projects in Border Communities: 24
Border Environment Infrastructure Fund (BEIF) PROJECTS 26
Rehabilitation of the Collector Oriente in Tijuana, Baja California 26
Improvements to the International Outfall Interceptor: Relocation of Lateral Connections and Erosion
Protection in Nogales, Arizona 27
Southwest Colonias Lift Station Improvements in Nogales, Sonora 28
Wastewater Collection System (Phase I) and Lift Station Improvements in Mexicali, Baja California 29
Rehabilitation of Small Lift Stations in Mexicali, Baja California 30
Water System Improvements Project in Presidio, Texas 31
Wastewater Collection and Treatment Project in Camargo, Tamaulipas 32
Wastewater Collection and Treatment Project in Reynosa, Tamaulipas 33
Rehabilitation of the Collector Poniente: Segment 1A in Tijuana, Baja California 33
Bay Acres Wastewater Collection System and Wastewater Treatment Plant Expansion in Douglas, Arizona .. 34
Groundbreaking Ceremony of Phase II New Drinking Water and Wastewater System in Vinton, Texas 34
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Highlights Report Summer 2024
GOAL 3: Promote Sustainable Materials Management and Waste Management, and Clean Sites 36
Waste Policy Workgroup 2022 and 2023 Binational Meetings 36
Consultative Mechanism 36
Webinar: Challenges and Best Practices in Sustainable Electronic Waste Recycling 37
California-Baja California Waste and Materials Management Workshop 37
Arizona-Sonora Goal 3 Task Force Meetings 37
Webinar: Sustainable Management of Food on the U.S.-Mexico Border 38
Three Border 2025, Goal 3 Grants Make Headway in the Circular Economy 39
Sustainable Use of Biosolids Using Composting Techniques in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua 41
Current Ongoing Goal 3 Projects in Border Communities: 42
Goal 4: IMPROVE JOINT PREPAREDNESS FOR AND RESPONSE TO HAZARDOUS ENVIRONMENTAL
EMERGENCIES 43
Update of the Mexico - United States Joint Contingency Plan (JCP) 44
Emergency Preparedness and Response Public Meeting 45
Emergency Notifications Along the U.S.-Mexico Border 46
Meetings and Site Visits 46
Sister City Joint Contingency Plan (SGCPs) Evaluations 47
Periodic Binational Tabletop Exercises and Drills in the Field 48
First Responder Operation (FRO), First Responder Awareness (FRA), and Incident Command System (ICS)
Trainings 48
Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) Trainings 49
El Paso/Ciudad Juarez Hazardous Materials Grant and Training 50
Eagle Pass Train Derailment Exercise 51
Additional Border Projects 52
Mapping the General Urban Heat and Identifying Urban Heat Island Spots in El Paso, Texas 52
Transboundary Water Conservation Project: Our Water, Our Future 53
Current Ongoing Additional Border Projects 53
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Highlights Report Summer 2024
National Coordinators' Message
To all who make the Border 2025 Program possible,
For the past 40 years, since the signing of the La Paz Agreement on August 14. 1983. in La Paz, Baja
California, Mexico, the United States of America and Mexico, committed to join efforts to protect the
environment and improve public health in the border region. Today, through the Border 2025: U.S.-Mexico
Environmental Program, significant achievements and progress has been made in addressing the serious
environmental problems in the U.S. - Mexico border region. Through this program, the United States of
America and Mexico, reaffirm the 1983 commitment to promote and strengthen the Program's guiding
principles and continue the successful elements from previous binational environmental programs. This
document highlights the progress achieved, recognizing the future challenges for the fulfillment of the
objectives of the Program.
This Border 2025: U.S.-Mexico Environmental Program Highlights Report, summarizes the binational
efforts done between 2021 to 2023 to achieve tangible environmental results to improve air quality, water
quality, raise awareness and education on sustainable materials practices and build capacity to respond to
environmental emergencies. Despite the unique challenge border communities faced from the worldwide
Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Border Program and its Partners, remained committed to the
binational efforts outlined under the framework of the Border 2025 Program.
On behalf of the National Coordinators of the Border 2025 Program, the United States Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) and Mexico's Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT,
acronym in Spanish), we express our sincere recognition and gratitude to all contributors of this binational
effort, especially the representatives of the environmental agencies of the ten border states; the 27 U.S.
federally recognized Tribes and the indigenous and Afro-Mexican communities located along the border;
the Regional Coordinators, the Policy Workgroup Co-Chairs, and the local regional Task Forces; and
partners from academia, industry and non-governmental organizations. To all who have actively
committed themselves to this noble cause to set forth a collective vision for improving environmental
conditions for all border residents, THANK YOU!
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Highlights Report Summer 2024
Foreword
At the midpoint, 2021-2023.
The U.S.-Mexico Environmental Program: Border 2025 is the fifth iteration of the border cooperation
between U.S. and Mexico under the 1983 La Paz Agreement. It builds on previous binational efforts and
environmental programs to continue a regional, community-led approach for decision-making, priority
setting, and project implementation. The program's purpose is to identify and address the environmental
and health challenges that impact border communities and provide support to address them in
coordination with program partners.
Like past Border Environmental Programs, the Border 2025 Program is a partnership between the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Secretariat for Environment and Natural Resources of Mexico
(SEMARNAT, acronym in Spanish), the ten Border States, U.S. Tribes located within the U.S.-Mexico Border,
Mexican Indigenous Communities, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and communities. The
Border 2025 Program also embraces a strong partnership with the North American Development Bank
(NADBank) to administer EPA's resources to implement projects, to provide technical assistance and
support regional and national-level meetings. The Border 2025 program implements small pilot-projects
to tackle the joint priorities identified in its four strategic goals: reducing air pollution, improving water
quality, promoting sustainable materials and waste management, and clean sites, and enhancing joint
preparedness for and response to hazardous environmental emergencies. The implemented projects
and capacity building efforts strive to promote and include guiding principles that address climate
friendly strategies and solutions and environmental equity in border communities.
This highlights report summarizes completed and ongoing border activities and projects between 2021 to
2023 that support the commitments identified in the Border 2025 program. The range of topics and
activities include workshops and webinars on air emissions inventories and e-waste recycling, projects on
wastewater treatment system improvements and access to water services, and emergency response
trainings, among others. These projects have helped improve the quality of life for border and tribal
residents, indigenous and Afro-Mexican communities, and our shared environment. For example, a current
air quality project in the Lower Rio Grande Valley region in Texas is helping communities in the area to
learn about climate change and public health, specifically on health impacts associated with exposure to
air contaminants in areas adjacent to major roadways and highways.
In addition to working on reducing air pollution, improving water quality, promoting sustainable
management of materials, waste and clean sites, and improving joint preparedness for and response to
hazardous environmental emergencies, the Border 2025 program also promotes projects to address
environmental equity among federally recognized Tribes, indigenous and Afro-Mexican communities along
the border. For example, funding through the State Environmental Justice Cooperative Agreement will
assist the Tohono O'odham Nation in Arizona to develop an air quality plan for the Nation to address the
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Highlights Report Summer 2024
issue of air pollution affecting the Nation's population. Similarly, a project in Mexicali, Baja California, to
improve air quality and transportation systems, will focus on developing tools to incorporate and assess
environmental justice as it relates to clean alternative transportation technologies and ways to improve
the city's infrastructure conditions to ensure safer public transportation.
For additional information on the goals and objectives of the Border 2025 Program, please see the Border
2025 Framework Document. For past accomplishments reports, please visit the Border 2025 Program web
areas at EPA or SEMARNAT.
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Highlights Report Summer 2024
GOAL 1: Reduce Air Pollution
Air Quality, Transportation, and Environmental Justice Analysis in Mexicali
The project led by the University of Texas at Austin, sought to develop tools through data analysis to
incorporate and assess environmental justice as it relates to transportation, understanding the urban
layout, and to complete a technical viability assessment of alternate transportation technologies in
selected bus routes, in Mexicali, Baja California. The goals for this project were to, "support the
development of passenger mobility with an integrative and sustainable vision, and reorganize public
passenger and load transportation, which point towards the need to assess the population that would
benefit from an intervention in transportation infrastructure development." The project concludes with
recommendations that point to not only providing a cleaner transportation system but improving the city's
infrastructure conditions to ensure safer public transportation. Furthermore, it advocates for further
electrified transportation studies for consumers to have a better concept of charging strategies which can
open the market for potential investors.
RESET
RAPID, EQUITABLE, & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY TRANSITIONS LAB
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Highlights Report Summer 2024
Impact of Nava, Coahuila Coal-fired Plant Emissions
In 2019, the U.S.-Mexico Border 2020 Program provided funds to the Secretariat of the Environment of
the State of Coahuila (SMA, acronym in Spanish) to understand the adverse effects of emissions from two
electric power generating plants operated through coal burning in the municipality of Nava, Coahuila.
These plants, the Jose Lopez Portillo Thermoelectric Plant and the Carbon II Thermoelectric Plant generate
10% of the total electrical energy consumed in Mexico and are less than 40 km from the U.S.-Mexico
border. The single air monitoring station in this region is in Piedras Negras, which is too far from the power
plants to confidently measure their air quality impacts. Therefore, there has been limited information on
the coal-fired power plants' effects on air quality and local public health along the Texas-Coahuila border.
This project consisted of estimating the emissions from the power plants and used meteorological
modeling to determine transport, dispersion, and concentration of pollutants within a 150 km and 200 km
radius from the power plants.
The project team used data from 2018 to estimate pollutant emissions from power plants by using
methods established by EPA and SEMARNAT. Estimates were made for various emitted contaminants with
a focus on suspended particles with less than 10 and 2.5 microns in size (particulate matter (PM10 and
PM2.5), respectively), and black carbon (BC). Combined emission estimates and meteorological data (i.e.,
temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, rainfall, solar radiation, wind speed, wind direction) was
modeled to measure transport, dispersion, and concentration of each of the air pollutants. Incorporating
estimates and modeling information with satellite imaging, geographical areas influenced by the power
plants were identified.
Based on the modeling, the team identified the communities or populations within a 150 km to 200 km
radius of influence (represented in the Figure below) that are potentially exposed to PM and BC emissions
from the coal-fired power plants.
As part of the project, SMA hosted three virtual workshops for approximately 400 Nava, Ciudad Acuna and
Piedras Negras residents to raise awareness about possible health impacts associated with the air quality
in the area. Outreach material related to this project was shared through various social media platforms
(Instagram, Facebook, Twitter).
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Highlights Report Summer 2024
I I Ihnit
P 15 30 60
Population potentially impacted by the coal-fired plant emissions (Source: Final project report from SMA)
Strengthening Mexican Emissions Inventories in Baja California and Chihuahua
In 2022, EPA's Office of Air and Radiation (OAR) and Eastern Research Group, inc. began work on
"Strengthening Mexican Emissions Inventories and Related Capacity to Support the Border 2025 Program
Air Objectives and Improve Understanding of Mexico-U.S. Transboundary Air Pollution" to enhance EPA's
understanding of Mexican inventories and transboundary air pollution originating in Mexico, and to share
findings with Mexico's Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT, acronym in Spanish)
to further advance the quality of select Mexican state-level emission inventories and improve human
health and environmental outcomes along the U.S.-Mexico border. Several communities along both sides
of the U.S.-Mexico border share airsheds and have strong economic linkages, such that emissions
generating activities in one city can directly affect the other. To date, project partners have reviewed and
made technical improvements to the most recent (2018) Mexico National Emissions Inventory (INEM,
acronym in Spanish) data for the border states of Baja California and Chihuahua by correcting
missing/incorrect point source coordinates, Source Classification Code (SCC) assignments, and emissions
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Highlights Report Summer 2024
factors, among other improvements. EPA plans to build upon this initial work by supporting similar efforts
in Sonora, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, and Tamaulipas in the coming year.
On May 23-24, 2023, EPA and SEMARNAT co-hosted a workshop on improving air emissions inventories
for Mexican air quality officials and technical experts. Over 50 individuals participated in the event,
including representatives from Mexican border states and US border state air agencies. In addition to
providing an overview of findings from the aforementioned project, the workshop included a technical
training on best practices and lessons learned for emissions inventory development. Representatives from
Coahuila, Mexico presented on the use of the Annual Operation Certificate platform in developing
emission inventories and an impact assessment for coal-fired plant emissions in Nava, Coahuila. In
addition, Mexican border state participants interacted in a roundtable discussion where they shared
insights on challenges they often face in preparing inventories, and identified the need for specialized
training and enhanced capacity.
Air Sensors Training
EPA's Office of Air and Radiation (OAR) and Office of Research and Development (ORD) developed an
Introduction to Air Sensors trainingthat is publicly available in both English and Spanish on ORD's AirSensor
Toolbox of EPA's website. This is an update to the EPA Sensors Training Webinar presented to members of
the Imperial-Mexicali Air Quality Task Force and their community stakeholders on September 22, 2020. Air
sensors are often more affordable and convenient compared to instruments used for regulatory
monitoring. They can be especially useful for non-regulatory, supplemental, and informational monitoring
(NSIM) applications, including increasing awareness about local or neighborhood-specific air quality data,
hotspot identification, emergency response, and supplementing ambient monitoring networks. OAR
designed this training to provide users with critical insight on best practices as air sensors become more
popular and widely used. This work further supports Border 2025 Objective la: to increase knowledge-
transfer and provide training opportunities on performance standards and applications of low-cost air
quality sensors. The Introduction to Air Sensors recorded presentation covers a range of topics, including
a general overview of air sensors and how they differ from regulatory monitors, potential uses, and
applications, how to plan and conduct a study using air sensor data, quality control and assurance,
interpreting air sensor evaluations, and data analysis. The training also points to several additional
resources, guidebooks, and recommendations available to Spanish speakers interested in furthering their
knowledge of air sensor siting, measurement, and interpretation.
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Highlights Report Summer 2024
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Introduction to Air Sensors
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Office of Research and Development (ORD)
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Snapshot of Publicly Available introduction Slide to Air Sensors Training
Binational Collaboration: Key to improve Air Quality in the Paso del Norte Region
In February 2023, partners of Border 2025 Program led a series of binational events to protect and improve
air quality in the Paso del Norte Air Basin. The events occurred in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, and El Paso,
Texas.
Federal, state, and local government representatives from both sides of the border, the North American
Development Bank (NADBank), as well as private and civil society stakeholders, gathered to participate in
an ambitious calendar of events that marked important milestones for ongoing projects in the region.
The events included a workshop on quality assurance and control for air quality data, the first in-person
meeting of the Joint Advisory Committee (JAC) since 2020, and the inauguration of the new federal
reference monitoring station of the Juarez Network funded by the Binational Air Quality Fund (BAQF).
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Highlights Report Summer 2024
Inauguration of the new Air Quality Monitoring Site of the Juarez Network
From left to right: Carlos Rincon (EPA), Juan Hernandez Paz (UACJ), Daniel Lopez Vicuna (SEMARNAT), Ruben Iguarari (Marathon Petroleum Foundation), V.J.
Smith (Marathon Petroleum Foundation), Melissa Zambrano (SEDUE), Guy Donaldson (EPA) arid Eddie Moderow (TCEQ).
Created in 2021, the Binational Air Quality Fund created a new station to monitor ozone and particulate
matter and is placed alongside a ceilometer and meteorological instruments to improve data analysis and
the study of ozone formation. The BAQF is a first of its kind financial mechanism that fosters public-private
partnerships to fund network enhancement, expansion, and continuous operations for the benefit of Paso
del Norte Residents. Better air quality data will enhance health risk communications and the effectiveness
of air quality improvement projects for the region. Because of the BAQF, the Juarez air monitoring network
increased in size by 33%. This work contributes to Objective lb: Develop and implement a sustainable
financial mechanism for air quality monitoring in at least one border Mexican state.
85TH Meeting of the Joint Advisory Committee (JAC)
On February 17, 2023, in the Town Hall of Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, the JAC met in person for the first
time since 2020. The Mayor of Ciudad Juarez, Cruz Perez Cuellar gave opening remarks as did
Commissioner Bobby Janecka of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) highlighting the
importance of the Binational Air Quality Fund (BAQF) and calling members to move towards pollution
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Highlights Report Summer 2024
reduction efforts. Members proposed working on the creation of a basin wide emission inventory, agreed
on the establishment of an air quality excellence award named after Dr. Carlos Rincon and will convene to
analyze divergence patterns in 8-hour ozone average values between sister cities.
JAC members arid in-person attendees at the Juarez Municipality council room, during the JAC 85th session.
Two-day Workshop on Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) for Air Quality Data
The two-day binational workshop held in February 2023, improved understanding between U.S. and
Mexican authorities on quality assurance and control procedures for air quality data; strengthened the
technical knowledge of network operators and allowed for the exchange of experiences and best practices.
Renowned experts and environmental officials provided feedback to the QA/QC procedures of the Ciudad
Juarez network. This work supports Border 2025: Objective 1c: Ensure that all air quality agencies
operating one or more regulatory air quality monitors have developed a monitoring network plan (ideally
in cooperation with other agencies in the same airshed) and a quality assurance project plan.
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Highlights Report Summer 2024
Mark Berry from the EPA presenting during the El Paso, Texas portion of the QA/QC workshop.
Current Ongoing Air Quality Projects in Border Communities:
Air Quality Assessment: International Bridge of Americas, El Paso, Texas:
The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) wiii be monitoring and assessing air quality conditions and their
effects at one of the downtown urban international crossings, Bridge of the Americas (BOTA), in the Paso
del Norte airshed, using personal and low-cost sensors that will measure particulate matter (PM2.5)
emissions. This project will address both indoor air quality pollution in BOTA workplace installations, and
outdoor air quality pollution sources, when monitoring emissions of the idling vehicular traffic on the
bridge. Data produced by the monitors and observations made by the projects team at the international
crossing will be used to develop Health Risk, Sociological, and Transportation assessments. Data findings
of the project will help identify viable and cost-effective options for reducing vehicle emissions with the
hopes that these measures are considered for implementation by the regulatory agencies in the future.
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Highlights Report Summer 2024
Aerial view of the Bridge of the Americas (Photo credit to General Services Administration)
Exposure to air quality deterioration among the population in Piedras Negras and Ciudad Acuna:
The LTM Center for Energy and the Environment, A.C. will be conducting a project using personal air
monitoring equipment in areas of high vehicle flow to determine the concentration of air pollutants
(particulate matter (PMio, PM2.5) carbon monoxide and black carbon) in the area and identify possible
impacts to public health. The project team will determine the concentrations of air pollutants that
residents of Piedras Negras and Ciudad Acuna, Coahuila are exposed to in high vehicular traffic corridors
and where pedestrian walkways are located. Depending on the findings, walkways with lowest
concentrations of pollutants will be proposed as avenues with lowest possibility of exposure to poor air
quality among pedestrians, and areas with highest pollutant concentrations will be prioritized for public
health measures to address possible exposures to poor air quality conditions. The project team will host a
workshop in each city to inform residents of the project findings and educate them on the effects of poor
air quality and public health.
Empowering Air Quality Knowledge of the Lower Rio Grande Valley Citizenry:
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) will be conducting a project to increase knowledge on
air quality indicators such as particulate matter, ozone, carbon monoxide and black carbon, and associated
health impacts from exposure. The project will also be engaging the Lower Rio Grande Valley region's
communities, specifically, grade school students of all ages, parents, and environmental science teachers
to increase knowledge on the overall air quality and associated health impacts among the region's
stakeholders, primarily elementary, middle, and high school students at select schools adjacent to major
roadways and highways. Low-Cost Sensors would be deployed both in the indoor and outdoor
microenvironments of the selected schools. These simple to use instruments will help the students monitor
particulate matter pollution in real time on a web-based platform and trained to identify point and area
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Highlights Report Summer 2024
sources of air pollution in their vicinity. The students will learn the usage of Satellite data for air pollutants
to understand overall exposures in context of climate change and public health.
Air Quality Education in west Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua:
The Universidad Autonoma de Ciudad Juarez (UACJ, acronym in Spanish) will be conducting a project to
increase public awareness on the health effects associated with exposure to high levels of ozone and
particulate matter (PM2.5) in the El Paso, Texas-Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua air basin. Low-cost sensors will
be used to assess PM2.5 and ozone concentrations in a community center located in the city's western
area, which serves a large population of children and youth, who participate in outdoor activities. The
project team will conduct a series of workshops to teach residents on the public health impact of poor air
quality. In addition, the project team will educate the youth on alternative activities or precautions they
should implement when air quality standards are exceeded. Visual aids and screens will be installed at the
community center, which will provide information on air quality and display real-time data collected by
the sensors. This project will engage and empower the local youth by providing them with the tools to
learn, collect, and disseminate information to peers about air quality in their area.
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Highlights Report Summer 2024
GOAL 2: improve Water Quality
Pre-treatment of Wastewater with Heavy Metals and Reuse in Nogales
Heavy metais from industrial sources in Nogales, Sonora reach the Nogales International Wastewater
Treatment Plant (NIWTP) in Nogales, Arizona exceeding tolerances for efficient operation of the plant
resulting in impacts to the water quality of the Santa Cruz River. The Office of Urban Development and
Ecology of Nogales, Sonora received a grant from the Border 2025 program, additional financial support
from the U.S. section of the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC), and in-kind support
from the Mexican section of the International and Boundary Water Commission (CI LA, acronym in Spanish)
to implement a pretreatment and reuse project.
The main objectives of this project are to reduce the concentration of heavy metals in the wastewater
from industrial plating processes in Sonora, establish the parameters and conditions under which the
discharges of wastewater with heavy metal content from the industrial sector must be regulated by local
authorities, and offer pretreatment options to the industrial sector. Nine industrial establishments with
metal coating processes and existing pretreatment systems have been selected for sampling and
characterization of their wastewater effluent. Sampling began in October 2023
In addition, the project aims to verify the viability of using plants to reduce the concentrations of heavy
metals in the wastewater effluents from the industrial facilities through a pilot project and lab-scale
experiments using local plants. A contractor has begun a literature review to identify the plants to be used
for the pilot project. The data gathered from these experiments will be used to inform a feasibility analysis
for the reuse of industrial water reuse in urban green spaces that complies with reuse regulations.
EPA has been working jointly with the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ), NADBank,
Organismo Operador Municipal de Agua Potable Alcantarillado y Saneamiento (OOMAPAS, acronym in
Spanish), U.S. and Mexican Sections of the IBWC, and the Office of Urban Development and Ecology in
Sonora to address the priority issue of pretreatment for heavy metais in wastewater effluent.
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Highlights Report Summer 2024
Water quality workgroup representatives arid stakeholders from Ambos Nogales celebrating the arrival of portable sampling equipment for the B2025 heavy
metals pretreatment project.
Binational Trainings for Sediment Pollution Retention in Sonora and Arizona
Human activities such as urbanization and development, unsustainable groundwater extraction, and the
alteration of surface water flows in the Arizona-Sonora border have resulted in increased erosion,
sediment pollution, a reduction in the availability of surface water, and detrimental impacts to ecological
communities.
Through a grant from EPA's Border 2025 program, the Borderlands Restoration Network (BRN) completed
a series of binational sediment retention training workshops in Rancho San Bernardino and Rancho Nuevo
in Sonora, Mexico and in Patagonia, Arizona.
The first event, an advanced sediment pollution retention workshop, was held from April 5-9, 2022, in
Sonora, Mexico. Participants toured sites with previous sediment-retention restoration structures, spent
time constructing sediment-retaining gabion structures, and learned about sustainable grazing techniques
to minimize erosion and sediment pollution to waterways.
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Highlights Report Summer 2024
Workshop participants posing in front of gabion they constructed in Rancho Nuevo, Municipality of Agua Prieta, Sonora (Spring 2022)
Workshop participants learned about sustainable ranching practices to reduce erosion and sediment pollution in downstream waters at Rancho Nuevo,
Sonora, Mexico in April 2022
The second event, a beginner sediment retention workshop for practitioners, was held from September
19th-23rd, 2022 in Patagonia, Arizona, Restoration practitioners and members of the San Carlos Apache
Tribe learned about watershed restoration, erosion control, and native plant propagation and
revegetation. Workshop participants constructed ten erosion control structures, one of which is depicted
in the picture below.
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Highlights Report Summer 2024
Son Carlos Apache Tribe arid BRN staff posing in front ofZuni howI that was designed and constructed during the second workshop in September 2022 in
Patagonia, Arizona
The third event, a small-scale sediment retention workshop for practitioners, was held from October 3rd-
7th, 2022 in Patagonia, Arizona. Workshop participants constructed 42 erosion control structures and
distributed 25 pounds of peiletized native seed in the project area, one of which is depicted in the picture
below. In addition, two educational videos were produced both in Spanish and English.
Workshop participants constructed erosion control structures in an abandoned road that was experiencing rapid erosion in October 2022 in Patagonia,
Arizona
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Highlights Report Summer 2024
The watershed restoration workshops provided 28 participants of all skill-levels with the knowledge and
tools to implement restoration work. In addition, the construction of erosion control structures during the
training events organized by BRN are helping to decrease sediment pollution in a primary tributary of the
Santa Cruz River. This work will mitigate erosion, stabilize soils, and reduce trash and sediment pollution
from entering high priority, binational watersheds.
Developing Wastewater Reuse Design on Cocopah Tribal Lands
The Cocopah Indian Tribe implemented an environmental restoration project using the City of Yuma's
(COY) treated wastewater effluent that flows through Cocopah tribal lands (see site location map below).
The project consists of developing a re-use design to construct a wetland of up to 42 acres to improve
water quality through natural filtration and increase riparian plant life.
The development of the re-use wetland design will be driven by results from soil assessments of selected
tribal lands and water quality analyses of the COY's wastewater effluent. The resulting increase in riparian
plant life is expected to enhance habitats for native and migratory wildlife.
In 2022 and early 2023, the project team completed site base and topography maps using lidar data from
the Bureau of Reclamation, conducted soil sampling, and finalized a water quality assessment. A
restoration consultant completed a final restoration design in April of 2023. The design includes routing of
the effluent stream to flow throughout the 42-acre project, constructed riffles to promote aeration of the
water to increase dissolved oxygen levels, beaver dam analogues and ponds, and a planting design to
accommodate four habitat types including aquatic, wetland, riparian, and upland areas. The design also
includes recreational and cultural features such as an elder's village, a pollinator and medicinal plant
garden, and a 1.7-mile walking trail. The team produced a video on the project which can be viewed here.
Cocopah Border 2025 Wetland Design Project
Overall Site Location Map - April 2022
® <&oxbow #
Site location map for Cocopah constructed wetland using the City of Yuma's treated effluent.
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Highlights Report Summer 2024
Goodenough Spring Catchment Area Characterization, Amistad Reservoir, Rio Grande Valley
The Southwest Research Institute worked with U.S. and Mexican Federal and State partners to help
delineate the Goodenough Spring Catchment Area by the Amistad Reservoir in Texas. The project team
aimed to help stakeholders in the region better understand the catchment area to effectively manage and
protect it for long term-use sustainability.
Ten wells in Texas and Coahuila as well as Goodenough Spring were sampled for a comprehensive suite of
geochemical parameters including major ions and isotopes, with the isotopic analyses for the Coahuiia
portion of the study area being the first of their kind. Sampling sites and project team collecting samples
are depicted below. Water analysis showed similarities in ion chemistry between the waters of
Goodenough Spring and the waters of wells on both sides of the border. Examination of the available
chemistry data for Goodenough Spring and wells in the region suggested that the source area of
Goodenough Spring may be transboundary in nature, with the upland regions of nearby watersheds in
Mexico perhaps comprising the main components of this source area.
# Goodenough Spring
• Cities
Streams
Wells
o Not sampled
© Sampled, samples sent to labs
• Sampled, sample not sent to labs
¦ ¦¦ USA-Mexico Border
Amistad Reservoir
Sampling location map from wells in Texas, Coahuila and Goodenough Spring Catchment area
The project concluded that additional research, particularly additional data collection in Coahuila is
needed. Based on current data, however, protection of the quality and quantity of water discharged from
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Highlights Report Summer 2024
Goodenough Spring will require coordinated management strategies between the United States and
Mexico.
Binational Agreements to reduce Transboundary Water Pollution in San Diego and Tijuana
In July 2022, binational discussions to implement priority infrastructure projects and their associated cost
shares were memorialized in two agreements signed by U.S. and Mexican federal agencies. On July 1, 2022,
EPA's Office of Water Assistant Administrator Radhika Fox signed the Statement of Intent alongside her
counterpart in CONAGUA (Mexico's National Water Commission), Dr. Humberto Marengo, This document
serves as a binational framework listing short- and long-term projects to stem the flow of transboundary
pollution in the San Diego/Tijuana region. The second binational agreement, Minute 328, was signed by
the US and Mexican sections of the International and Boundary Water Commissions (IBWC and CILA,
respectively) on July 19, 2022. This agreement is the first step in binational implementation of the
Statement of Intent framework and includes the projects to be implemented to address the transboundary
flow issues as well as operations and maintenance cost-sharing for the proposed expansion of the South
Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant (ITP). The agreements outline sanitation projects to be
constructed in San Diego and Tijuana using $330 million dollars from the U.S. government, funded through
United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and the Border Water Infrastructure Program (BWIP)
for Drinking Water and Wastewater infrastructure Projects for the US-Mexico Border Populations, and
$144 million dollars from the Mexican government. On August 18, 2022, EPA and the IBWC hosted a
ceremony at the Tijuana Estuary in Imperial Beach to celebrate the signing of these two agreements and
the exchange of diplomatic letters notifying the entry into force of Minute 328.
EPA continues to hold monthly meetings with Mexico to discuss progress on the implementation of the
Statement of Intent and Minute 328. Agencies participating include EPA, CONAGUA, USIBWC and CILA,
NADBank, the Baja California State Government, and others. Rehabilitation of the Oriente Collector, one
of the projects outlined in Minute 328, was completed in summer of 2023. This project mitigates the risk
Project team taking water samples at the Goodenough Spring Catchment area and surrounding wells.
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24
Highlights Report Summer 2024
of 7.1 million gallons per day of untreated wastewater discharges to the Tijuana River and was funded
through the NADBank's Border Environment Infrastructure Fund (BEIF) with matching funds from Mexico.
Statement of Intent Ceremonial Signing on August 18, 2022, at the Tijuana Estuary in Imperial Beach (On the left: Bruno Pigott, EPA; on the right: Jose
Gutierrez, CONAGUA)
Current Ongoing Water Quality Projects in Border Communities:
Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) Real Time Surface Water Monitoring Pilot Program:
The Research, Applied Technology, Education, Services, Inc. (RATES) will be conducting a pilot project for
an early flood warning system; a tool to evaluate real-time monitoring of water bodies to assist in prompt
decision-making during storm events. The team will deploy one Real Time Hydrologic Station (RTHS) in the
LRGV to understand the hydrological behavior in the region. The end goal of the project is to help facilitate
inter-jurisdictional collaborations and holistic flood, water quality and ecological management in the LRGV
area. The project team will also develop a website to promote the RTHS pilot program and disseminate
information through six workshops to residents in the counties of Willacy, Hidalgo and Cameron, Texas.
Lower Rio Grande (LRG)/Bravo Two-Day Salinity Level Forecast using Artificial Intelligence:
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) received funding to develop an online Artificial
Intelligence (Al) salinity forecast tool for water users of the Lower Rio Grande, where salinity levels have
slowly been increasing and impacting agricultural production. The Al tool will utilize data such as subbasin
rainfall, monitored water temperature and river discharge housed by the Texas Commission on
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Highlights Report Summer 2024
Environmental Quality (TCEQ), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. section of
the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) and its Mexican section (CILA, acronym in
Spanish) for generating the forecast data. On-site trainings/presentations will be carried out on how to use
this online forecasting tool to the Texas Counties of Willacy, Hidalgo, and Cameron.
Strengthening Governance to Safeguard the Rio Grande in Coahuila/Nuevo Leon/Tamaulipas:
The Pronatura Noreste, A.C. received funding to develop a project aimed to develop a mobile application
(app) with geographical or mapping features, for communities along the Rio Grande or its tributaries to
report environmental concerns that directly affect the water quality of these water sources. The app will
serve as a tool to improve communication between these communities and Mexico's water regulating
agencies. Residents of these communities will be able to do water surveillance and report water quality
concerns. At the same time, regulating agencies will be able to send mass notifications when water quality
may be a threat to public health. A series of in-person workshops, along with online virtual training will be
provided to the communities of Chihuahua, Piedras Negras, Monterrey and Reynosa, to educate them on
the use of the app.
Decentralized Onsite Wastewater Treatment Facility Survey and Community Education:
Communities Unlimited Inc. received funding to conduct a project to survey failing or absent Decentralized
Onsite Wastewater Treatment Facilities (OWTF) in areas of large minority populations of moderate to low-
income households in Hidalgo County, Texas. A community outreach and bilingual education campaign will
be carried out to educate rural and Colonia homeowners on the importance of and best management
practices for properly maintaining OWTF to eliminate the discharge of untreated sewage into the Rio
Grande River watershed. A direct impact of this project will be improving resident's knowledge on the
environmental health impacts of improperly maintained septic tanks.
Applying Hydrogeochemistry to Refine Hydrologic Conceptualization of Amistad Reservoir Region:
The Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) will be conducting a project that builds upon a Border 2020
Program project from 2019 on the Goodenough Spring in the Texas - Coahuila geographic area. The goal
of the project is to develop a more robust hydrologic characterization of the water resources of the
Amistad Reservoir, depicted below with an emphasis on filling in critical data gaps pertaining to the
Mexican state of Coahuila bordering with Val Verde County, Texas region. Additional water samples will
be collected from wells, springs, and surface-water in the Texas-Coahuila border, to expand the
understanding of the region's hydrogeochemistry and water quality and aid water agencies in making
decisions to better protect these water resources. Project results will be shared with binational partners
in the region.
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Highlights Report Summer 2024
Overlooking the Amistad Reservoir
Rain Harvesters in the San Pedro River Basin, Sonora:
The Watershed Management Group located in Arizona, received funds to teach community members
rainwater harvesting techniques and improve water security in four ejidos (communal form of land tenure)
in the San Pedro River watershed. Efforts will include holding 4 to 5 workshops to train participants in
designing and installing rainwater collection systems in each ejido and use them as demonstration
projects. Rainwater would be used for livestock, vegetable gardens, fruit trees, etc.
Border Environment Infrastructure Fund (BEIF) PROJECTS
EPA's Office of Water funds, administers, and leads the U.S.-Mexico Border Water Infrastructure Program
(BWIP) for the region 100 kilometers (62 miles) north to 100 kilometers south of the U.S. -Mexico border.
The BEIF program under BWIP offers grant financing exclusively for the implementation of high-priority
municipal drinking water and wastewater infrastructure projects.
Rehabilitation of the Collector Oriente in Tijuana, Baja California
The project consists of the rehabilitation of the Buena Vista section of the sewer main known as the
Collector Oriente, which extends approximately 4,416 ft. The project will significantly reduce exposure to
untreated wastewater and potential contamination of surface and groundwater by reducing the risk of
line failures, thereby preventing the potential discharge of approximately 7.1 million gallons daily (mgd) of
wastewater that could affect the Tijuana River.
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Highlights Report Summer 2024
Region 9 Regional Administrator Guzman at the site
Improvements to the International Outfall Interceptor: Relocation of Lateral Connections and Erosion
Protection in Nogales, Arizona
The international Outfall Interceptor (101) conveys water from the Nogales, Sonora wastewater collect
system and the Nogales International Wastewater Treatment Plant (NIWTP) in Rio Rico, Arizona. It was
built 50 years ago using reinforced and unreinforced concrete pipe. The 101 has exceeded its useful life and
is showing signs of structural deterioration, including corrosion, cracks, and wall penetrations. Because of
this deterioration, it has been experiencing operational problems, such as groundwater inflow and
infiltration and root intrusion, which has resulted in pipeline and manhole failures with untreated
discharges to the Nogales Wash.
The project consists of the abandonment of five substandard lateral connections to the 101 and the
relocation of three of those connections to the nearest manhole on the 101. This was completed in January
of 2022. The project also includes erosion protection for vulnerable segments of the 101 within the Nogales
Wash and was completed in April 2023.
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Highlights Report Summer 2024
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Map of plan activities at the International Outfall Interceptor (101) in Nogales, Arizona
The project will help reduce the risk of pipeline failures in the 101, thereby preventing the potential
discharge of up to 15.2 million gallons per day (mgd) of untreated or inadequately treated wastewater to
the Nogales Wash, a tributary of the Santa Cruz River. It will improve wastewater collection and
wastewater treatment services for up to 8,000 homes and protect vulnerable segments of the 101 and
other municipal infrastructure by providing bank and erosion protection in the Nogales Wash consistent
with the 100-year flood standard.
Southwest Colonias Lift Station Improvements in Nogales, Sonora
This project is expected to benefit 16,701 residents by receiving and conveying flow from the Nogales,
Sonora Southwest Colonias and other areas to the Los Alisos Treatment Plant. The Estadio Lift Station
Improvements are separated into two phases. Phase 1 includes civil improvements and sand/grit removal.
Those improvements were completed in February 2023. The second phase includes installation of a backup
generator and mechanical and electrical control. Construction was completed in June 2023.
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Highlights Report Summer 2024
Construction progress for the SW Colonias Lift Station Improvements, Nogales, Sonora, October 2022
Wastewater Collection System (Phase I) and Lift Station Improvements in Mexicali, Baja California
The project includes replacement of 34f467 ft of deteriorated pipeline in the wastewater collection system
and rehabilitation of Lift Stations No. 2, 4 and 5 (see Figure below).
Map depicting locations of lift stations ft2,4, and 5 under construction in Mexicali, Baja California
The project will provide adequate infrastructure to collect the wastewater flows and safely convey them
to the existing treatment plant. The rehabilitated infrastructure wili improve system reliability by reducing
the risk of pipeline failures that can cause sewage overflows onto local streets and into the New River,
which flows northward into the United States. It will mitigate the risk of 33.1 mgd of untreated wastewater
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Highlights Report Summer 2024
discharges into the New River. The rehabilitation of the wastewater collection system was completed in
2022, and the lift station rehab is currently under construction with an expected completion date of June
2024 (see picture below).
Construction work at Lift Station U4 - Spring 2022
Rehabilitation of Small Lift Stations in Mexicali, Baja California
The project consists of the rehabilitation of 12 small lift stations: Aurora, Ca lie G, Campestre, Centra Civico,
Cipresito, Esperanza Agricola, Hidalgo, Jardines del Lago, Nueva Esperanza, Zacatecas, San Marcos, and
Coronado (see map below). Rehabilitation works also include building improvements, such as updates to
the control room, wet well rehabilitation, installation of travel hoist equipment, a perimetral fence and
site improvements to accommodate access for vacuum trucks.
NEW
ftWER
12 W1AU PUMP 5TATH1N5
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31
Highlights Report Summer 2024
pump failures that could cause sewage overflows onto local streets and into the New River, which flows
northward into the United States, Specifically, the project will help protect public health and the
environment by preventing approximately 8,7 million gallons per day of wastewater discharges. The
Centro Civico, Calie G, and Esperanza lift stations have been completed (June 2023), and the remaining 9
are currently under construction.
Completed construction at Centro Civico Lift Station Construction underway at Hidalgo Lift Station
Water System Improvements Project in Presidio, Texas
This project completed in November 2021 provided first-time access to water services for 10 households
and seven businesses along Highway 67, benefiting 4,000 residents. Installation of the waterline is depicted
below. The sustainability of the entire system was increased by improvements that reduced pressure in
the waterlines, preventing at least 80,000 gallons a day in water losses from frequent line breaks and leaks,
as well as the potential for contamination of the water supply.
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Highlights Report Summer 2024
Waterlirie installation in Presidio, Texas
Wastewater Collection and Treatment Project in Camargo, Tamaulipas
Completed in September 2021 and benefiting 8,819 residents, this comprehensive wastewater
improvement project included construction of a new treatment plant with the capacity to produce effluent
for agricultural purposes, and expansion of the wastewater collection system to two unserved areas,
providing first-time service to an estimated 890 residents. These improvements have reduced the risk of
groundwater and surface water contamination, including in the San Juan River, which is a tributary of the
Rio Grande.
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Highlights Report Summer 2024
Wastewater Collection System in Camargo, Tamaulipas
Wastewater Collection and Treatment Project in Reynosa, Tamaulipas
The project completed in August 2021 and benefiting 286,853 residents included the expansion of the
Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) No. 2, to increase capacity from 5,7 mgd to 17.1 mgd, as well as
construction of Lift Station No. 278, rehabilitation of Lift Station No. 1 (as depicted in the pictures below)
and decommissioning of three lift stations. Expansion of wastewater treatment coverage, preventing
untreated sewage discharges from entering the Rio Grande River, which will reduce environmental
pollution and the risk of waterborne diseases, thus providing a safer and healthier source of water for the
city, as well as for downstream users. Specifically, an estimated 9.0 mgd of wastewater will be collected
and treated.
Lift Station No.278 Lift Station No, 1 Manifold
Rehabilitation of the Collector Poniente: Segment 1A in Tijuana, Baja California
Rehabilitation of the final segment of this major sewer main (as shown in the picture below), along with
repairs to connect a collapsed segment of the Canon del Sainz-Los Reyes sewer line to the main, are
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Highlights Report Summer 2024
preventing the potential discharge of up to 6 million gallons a day of untreated wastewater that could flow
into the Tijuana River, thus reducing the potential for transboundary flows. This project, completed in May
2021, benefits an estimated 87,000 residents in Tijuana, Baja California.
Installation of the last segment of the major sewer main in Tijuana, Baja California
Bay Acres Wastewater Collection System and Wastewater Treatment Plant Expansion in Douglas,
Arizona
The new sewer system, along with the closure of the failing on-site septic systems has eliminated
wastewater discharges to streets, backyards, and alleyways in the Bay Acres subdivision, while
improvements to the Douglas Wastewater Treatment Plant have increased the quality of the effluent that
is discharged across the border in Agua Prieta, Sonora, pursuant to international agreements. This project,
completed in April 2021, benefited 17,378 residents in Douglas, Arizona.
Improvements to and expansion of the existing WWTP in Douglas, Arizona
Groundbreaking Ceremony of Phase II Mew Drinking Water and Wastewater System in Vinton, Texas
On January 27. 2022. EPA Region 6, NADBank and the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) broke
ground on phase II of a new drinking water and wastewater system that will help reduce public health risks
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Highlights Report Summer 2024
and provide reliable service to the Village of Vinton, Texas. EPA Region 6 through the NADBank will be
funding the wastewater project which will provide first-time service to approximately 506 homes who up
to now have been relying on septic tanks. The new sewer system will collect and convey nearly 275,000
gallons per day of sewage to the John T Hickerson Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP), which is operated
by El Paso Water (EPW). The Project includes the installation of household connections and the
decommissioning of existing on-site systems. The TWDB will be funding the water system which is
expected to provide drinking water to 360 households.
North Ameritj
Developing
Left to right: Temis Alvarez (NADBank), Charles Maguire (EPA Region 6 Water Division Director), Dr. Earthea Nance (EPA Region 6 Regional Administrator),
James O'Brien (NADBank) and Gilbert Tellez (EPA)
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GOAL 3: Promote Sustainable Materials Management and Waste
Management, and Clean Sites
Waste Policy Workgroup 2022 and 2023 Binational Meetings
In March 2022, the Waste Policy Workgroup held its first binational meeting to advance Border 2025
objectives for waste. The meeting drew over 200 participants from both Mexico and the United States and
combined they represented federal, state, municipal and city agencies, Tribes, Universities, non-profit
organizations, and waste solution companies. Opening remarks were presented by the Workgroup Co-
Chairs from Mexico's Secretariat for the Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT, acronym in
Spanish) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). An overview of EPA and SEMARNAT's priorities for
waste included reduction of marine litter and plastic pollution, circular economy, environmental justice,
and climate change. NADBank presented the Bank's perspective on needs and trends in the Border region.
During an open discussion session participants provided their thoughts on issues and topics that would be
a good basis for cross-border virtual meetings and programming that could further the objectives of the
Workgroup.
The second binational meeting of the Waste Policy Workgroup was held on August 29, 2023. Nearly 100
interested parties from the United States and Mexico participated in the call, After opening remarks from
the Workgroup Co-Chairs, US EPA shared program updates, activities-to-date and upcoming events and
initiatives. SEMARNAT concluded the session with a productive facilitated discussion to solicit feedback on
priority issues and ideas that will inform and further the work of the Waste Policy Workgroup.
Consultative Mechanism
The Consultative Mechanism is a requirement of the Border 2025 program forthe exchange of information
related to the management of hazardous waste infrastructure in the border area. EPA provided SEMARNAT
with its updated Consultative Mechanism documents in October 2022 which reflect the current hazardous
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Highlights Report Summer 2024
waste, spent lead acid batteries, and electronics recycling facilities along the U.S. border region. A map
showing the location of these facilities was also provided. SEMARNAT is currently working on its
Consultative Mechanism Update.
Webinar: Challenges and Best Practices in Sustainable Electronic Waste Recycling
On May 17, 2023, the Goal 3 Policy Workgroup Co-Chairs, in collaboration with EPA Region 9, co-hosted a
Webinar on challenges and best practices in sustainable electronic waste recycling. With over 70
participants in attendance, speakers included national experts from the National Center for Electronics
Recycling and Cascade Asset Management (a U.S.-based e-recycler) who discussed best practices for e-
Waste Recycling. Officials from the Secretaria Desarrollo Urbano y Medio Ambiente del Estado de
Tamaulipas and California Department of Toxic Substances Control discussed challenges with e-Waste
management.
California-Baja California Waste and Materials Management Workshop
On June 8, 2022, California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) and Baja California Secretariat
of the Environment & Sustainable Development (SMADS, acronym in Spanish), co-chairs of the Goal 3 Task
Force, in coordination with EPA, held a virtual workshop for U.S.-Mexico cross-border shippers of
hazardous waste, as well as importers/exporters, brokers, recyclers, inspectors and government. The
audience learned about management of used catalytic converters, import/export of both universal and
electronic waste, EPA's regulated imports, and SMADS's regulations for 'specially managed waste'.
CalRecycle presented its programs on retread tires and managing of waste tires along the border and
funded various tire cleanups. The workshop was the third in a series of compliance assistance workshops
on hazardous and solid wastes and materials.
CalRecycle-funded Tire Clean-up. California Region, Summer 2021.
Arizona-Sonora Goal 3 Task Force Meetings
In 2022, the Arizona-Sonora Goal 3 Task Force held two meetings, one virtual and one hybrid. On October
6th, in conjunction with the Regional Coordinators Meeting also taking place at that time, task force co-
chair Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) and co-chair the Sonoran Commission of
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Highlights Report Summer 2024
Ecology & Sustainable Development (CEDES, acronym in Spanish), in coordination with EPA, held the Goal
3 Task Force Meeting in Nogales, Arizona, CEDES provided updates on its law regarding single-use plastics,
and the National Park Service presented on its initiative to rally the community in cleaning up bottle dams
in Tumacacori National Historical Park and identify long-term solutions. On May 26th, the Task Force held
a virtual meeting during which ADEQ. shared updates on its efforts to establish a 'hub & spoke' recycling
program, including on tribal lands.
Task Force Leads discussion of agenda topics in October 2022 in Nogales, Arizona
Webinar: Sustainable Management of Food on the U.S.-Mexico Border
In order to address food loss and waste on the U.S.-Mexico Border, Region 9 hosted a webinar on April 12,
2023, on sustainable management of food. The webinar, with 77 attendees, featured several food-related
presentations including presentations from the trinational Commission for Environmental Cooperation on
cross-border examples of food management, the State of Sonora Commission on Ecology & Sustainable
Development on anaerobic digestion studies in Sonora, and the not-for-profit, Mexicali-based Compostate
Bien, which runs a commercial and residential food scraps collection and composting service. In the picture
below, food scraps are being prepared for composting at the organization's facility.
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Highlights Report Summer 2024
Preparing food scraps for composting at Compdstate Bien in Mexicali, Baja California. October 22, 2021
Three Border 2025, Goal 3 Grants Make Headway in the Circular Economy
Three Border 2025 grant recipients (the Institute for Environmental Planning and Quality of Life, the
Environmental Health Coalition, and the Environmental Education Border Project) are making progress on
solid waste cleanup, prevention and recycling efforts in local communities and watersheds. The Institute
for Environmental Planning and Quality of Life (INPACVI, acronym in Spanish) completed its year-long
project to build and launch a recycling and composting center. Based in San Antonio Necua, Ensenada,
home of the Kumiai tribal community, the project strengthened the community's capacity for sustainably
managing its residential solid waste through an Integral Center for Solid Waste Management and Beneficial
Reuse (as seen in the picture below).
Separation, Cleaning and Weighing of Recyclables at San Antonio de Necua. November 25, 2022
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Highlights Report Summer 2024
Proyecto
Fronterizo
de Educacion Arabiental
The Environmental Education
Border Project (PFEA, acronym in
Spanish) coordinates an urban
waste management and cleanup
project in the Colonia Anexa
Miramar, in Tijuana. Efforts have
included a waste characterization and volunteer-driven
cleanups of abandoned trash resulting from a lack of
trash collection services due to a landslide blocking the
road. Efforts will continue into 2024 in coordination
with NADBank.
The Environmental Health Coalition (EHC) carried out a
Waste Analysis and Socio-Environmentall Vulnerability
study along the Alamar River in Tijuana. This included GPS
mapping of illegal dumpsites, and volunteer-driven Cleanup
Days for the forested area of the river, resulting in over 1
ton of trash collected. Next steps include an advanced
formal declaration to designate the Alamar as a protected
natural zone.
Community members provide input on Socio-Environmental
Vulnerability study - 2022
Community members engage in a PFEA-led
trash removal event - 2022
EPA's Region 9 Office, in coordination with Office of Tribal and International Affairs (OITA), planned a visit
by EPA Deputy Administrator Janet McCabe to visit the community with EHC and PFEA representatives in
May 2022, as depicted here.
EPA Deputy Administrator Janet McCabe in Tijuana, Baja California with R9 colleagues and Border 2025 grant recipients in May 2022
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Highlights Report Summer 2024
Sustainable Use of Biosolids Using Composting Techniques in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua
Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua wastewater treatment facilities produces 69,350 cubic meters (m3) of sewage
sludge or biosolids every year through their wastewater treatment processes. Over the years,
approximately 150,000 m3 of this biosolid has accumulated at the South Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Added to this waste, is organic mulch from park pruning, of which approximately six tons are generated
daily.
The Ciudad Juarez Municipal Water and Wastewater Utility (JMAS form, acronym in Spanish) received a
U.S.-Mexico Border 2020 Program grant to implement a compost sustainable program for city parks and
rural green spaces by utilizing a mixture of wastewater treatment plant's sewage sludge and urban park's
organic mulch biosolid waste. The overall project goal aimed to improve the quality of the soils in parks
and green spaces by finding an ideal compost mixture that would help reduce the use and amount of
chemical fertilizers and water that is currently applied in these green spaces for growth.
Biosolid piles at the wastewater treatment plant in April 2021
The project team coordinated with the city's Directorate of Parks and Gardens, to receive organic mulch
from park pruning, gathered from different parks in the city. This park pruning material was broken down
into small chips using a wood-chipper machine and combined with the biosolid sludge to form composting
piles of various sizes ranging from 1.7 m3 for small piles to 26 m3 for large ones. During the composting
process, compost samples were collected for physicochemical and microbiological profiles carried out in
the JMAS labs and the environmental science laboratory at the Instituto de Ciencias Biomedicas (ICB,
acronym in Spanish) - Universidad Autonoma de Ciudad Juarez (UAG, acronym in Spanish). Once compost
piles were confirmed to be of suitable quality through laboratory analysis, the project team applied
compost to green areas within the JMAS wastewater treatment plant in Anapra and coordinated with the
city's Directorate of Parks and Gardens to apply in five different selected parks throughout the city. The
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Highlights Report Summer 2024
project team exceeded their initial goal by more than double, producing a total of 248 tons of compost
where the majority of this was of suitable quality for applications in urban areas according to Mexican
federal regulations.
The project team promoted this work to municipal authorities, focusing on the advantages of improving
park soils using compost. As a result, the municipality commented that park committees will be formed
between neighboring groups to promote community involvement in park improvement. All compost of
suitable quality was applied in some of the city's recreational areas, promoting forestation, while reducing
water consumption for irrigation. This project was broadcasted through news outlets on July 23, 2021:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4DBDfrWlzg
Current Ongoing Goal 3 Projects in Border Communities:
Environmentally Responsible Rural Communities in Matamoros:
The city of Matamoros, Tamaulipas will be conducting a project that will focus on raising awareness in five
rural communities in Matamoros on proper waste management and sustainable environmental practices.
Each community will have waste containers installed with the goal of reducing illegal dumping in these
communities. Educational workshops will be implemented to inform residents about best waste
management practices, uses of pesticides and how they can take advantage of their natural resources
while minimizing environmental impacts. The project team will also build community gardens for the
communities while teaching them about composting.
Urban Solid Waste Management Plan for the Landfill in the Municipality of Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua:
The Public Works Department within Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua will be conducting a project to develop an
Urban Solid Waste Management Plan for the landfill in the Municipality of Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua. The
project team will conduct a diagnostic of the current waste management strategies, identifying waste
streams and analyzing applicable recycling technologies. The results of the diagnosis will be used to
determine more efficient and optimal practices suitable for Ciudad Juarez, which will focus on achieving a
circular economy as well as reducing environmental impacts. Once the project team establishes an Urban
Solid Waste Management Plan, they will work towards registering and publishing the plan under the
municipal ordinances.
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Highlights Report Summer 2024
Goal 4: IMPROVE JOINT PREPAREDNESS FOR AND RESPONSE TO HAZARDOUS
ENVIRONMENTAL EMERGENCIES
Since 2021, Goal 4 supporting partners have made meaningful strides to achieve the Goal's objectives
under the Border 2025 framework. Below are recent accomplishments associated with each objective.
El Paso, Texas firefighters during a training exercise at a rail yard in May 2021
In November 2022, EPA released its U.S.-Mexico Border Program 2025 Goal 4: Emergency Response and
Preparedness StoryMap. which visually depicts the shared efforts along the border to prepare for and
respond to hazardous environmental emergencies as depicted in the snapshot below. Users can visualize
hazardous incidents along the border, population densities, previous responses, and details on cross-
border training and exercises. EPA released In February 2023 the Spanish Version of the StoryMap.
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Highlights Report Summer 2024
v>EPA
U.S.-Mexico Border Program
Border 2025 Goals Goal 4: Hazardous Emergencies Sister Cities Environmental Justice Climate Change Preparedness and Coordination Tr
Sister Cities
Fifteen sets of neighboring Sister Cities sit
on opposite sides of U.S.-Mexico Border
and are home to more than 1 million
people. Through the creation of tailored
emergency response plans, the Sister
Cities work collaboratively to respond to
hazardous incidents that may harm the
air, land, water, and/or public health.
These include releases of hazardous
gases, liquids or wastes, and fires.
Snapshot of the Border 2025 Goal 4 StoryMap
Update of the Mexico - United States Joint Contingency Plan (JCP)
On January 12, 2023, U.S. and Mexican officials launched efforts to update the Mexico-United States JCP
for the first time since 2017. The launch included 14 participants from EPA's OEM, Region 6, and Region 9,
in addition to officials from SEMARNAT, PROFEPA, Mexico's National Center for Disaster Prevention
(CENAPRED, acronym in Spanish) and National Coordination for Civil Protection (CNPC, acronym in
Spanish). Updating the JCP will reinforce the emergency notification system and processes, including
affirming points of contact and preferred notification procedures. Recent developments include the U.S.
completing its update of the plan content and design. The U.S. will provide the translated document to
Mexico for revision and approval. This group will continue to work collaboratively to update and finalize a
new JCP.
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Highlights Report Summer 2024
2017 Joint Contingency Plan
Emergency Preparedness and Response Public Meeting
On March 16, 2022, U.S. and Mexican officials held a virtual public meeting to Improve Joint Preparedness
and Response to Hazardous Environmental Emergencies. EPA's Office of Emergency Management (OEM)
and officials from Secretariat for the Environment and Natural Resources the Federal Attorney General for
Environmental Protection (PROFEPA, acronym in Spanish), as well as National Coordination for Civil
Protection (CNPC, acronym in Spanish) jointly hosted the meeting, Additional EPA participants included
Regions 6 and 9, EPA's Office of International and Tribal Affairs (OITA), and the Office of Environmental
Justice (OEJ). Presenters provided background on the Border Program and emergency response along the
border, and hosted a discussion on recent achievements, current projects, and upcoming priorities such
as environmental justice. Over 150 binational participants attended, including federal government
representatives, local officials, first responders, private industry, and public stakeholders.
On August 22, 2023, U.S. and Mexican officials held a virtual public meeting to Improve Joint Preparedness
and Response to Hazardous Environmental Emergencies. EPA's Office of Emergency Management (OEM)
and officials from Mexico's Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT), the Federal
Attorney General for Environmental Protection (PROFEPA), as well as National Coordination for Civil
Protection (CNPC) jointly hosted the meeting. Additional EPA participants included Regions 6 and 9.
Presenters provided background on the Border Program and emergency response along the border and
hosted a discussion on recent activities. Over 100 binational participants attended, including federal
government representatives, local officials, first responders, private industry, and public stakeholders.
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Highlights Report Summer 2024
Emergency Notifications Along the U.S.-Mexico Border
To meet Goal 4's objective 1 to "Update the JCP arid evaluate the emergency notification system at the
U.S.-Mexico border" the U.S. National Response Center (NRC) notified Mexico of a total of 1,498
emergencies between 2021 and September of 2023. The notifications were made through the Center for
Guidance and Attention to Chemical Emergencies (COATEA) of PROFEPA and the National Communications
Center (CENACOM), of the National Coordination of Civil Protection, which then notified Mexico's
counterpart states. During the same period Mexico notified the NRC of 49 emergencies that occurred in
the U.S.-Mexico border.
National Response Center
Map of National Response Centers in Mexico and the U.S.
Meetings and Site Visits
From November 20-23, 2022, EPA's OEM and Region 9
staff traveled to multiple sites along the border of
Arizona and Sonora to hold in-person meetings, visit
sites of future exercises, and provide awareness of
local needs and areas for improvement. These site
visits bolstered the relationship between national and
local officials and provided inputs for meeting Goal 4
objectives. In Douglas, Arizona a technical Goal 4 Task
Force Meeting focused on local issues, emergency
responder training programs, and details on a future
full-scale, binational exercise. The visit to Ambos
Nogales included a tour of the city Emergency Operations Center (EOC), the border crossing to Mexico, as
well as the Nogales train yard, which will serve as the future site of a binational full-scale exercise. The trip
also included a meeting with Professor Al Brown at Arizona State University who is leading a study into the
Sister City Joint Contingency Plans (SGCPs).
Goal 4 Border 2025 Task Force leads at the Nogales, Arizona Fall 2022
meeting.
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Highlights Report Summer 2024
» -- *1
¦ - "v.—
Figure IParticipants at the binationai meeting in Nogales, Arizona Fall 2022
Sister City Joint Contingency Plan (SCJCPs) Evaluations
There are more than 9 million people living in 15 sister cities within the entire United States-Mexico region.
Additionally, there are more than 1.6 million employees working in manufacturing facilities along the U.S.
- Mexico border. The SGCPs recognize the importance of cross-border response, and the coordination of
shared resources and workforce during a hazardous emergency. However, many of the SCJCPs have not
been updated or revised in five to ten years. An analysis of six Sister City Joint Contingency Plans, within
the border region California - Baja California and Arizona-Sonora, was performed to determine their
current effectiveness in responding to hazardous substance releases. The findings determined that the
plans were adequate, but not sufficient for ensuring the full and effective utilization of resources essential
to protect the public health, safety, and the
environment within the border regions.
Furthermore, recommendations for
improvement were provided during the
evaluations to aid in hazardous risk analysis
preparedness, planning efforts, training,
coordination of resources and mutual aid
between federal, state, and local officials from
the United States and Mexico, responding to a
hazardous emergency.
Objective 2 | Objetivo 2
Objective 2: Update the Sister City
Joint Contingency Plans
Hi
Objetivo 2:Actualizar los Planes Conjuntos
de Contingencia de Ciudades Hermanas
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Highlights Report Summer 2024
Periodic Binational Tabletop Exercises and Drills in the Field
To meet Goal 4's Objective 2, "Review, update, and evaluate the Sister City Joint Contingency Plans of
Sister Cities (SCJCPs)" the Sister Cities along the U.S.-Mexico Border carried out a total of 127 binational
chemical emergency drills. Of these drills, 122 were notification and five were in the field, the latter carried
out in Agua Prieta, Sonora, Juarez and Ojinaga, Chihuahua, Reynosa and Matamoros, Tamaulipas.
In addition to the drills carried out in the Sister Cities, the remaining municipalities that make up the U.S.-
Mexico border, PROFEPA supported 212 chemical emergency drills in the field. These drills were carried
out by the national public and private sectors, with the state of Tamaulipas contributing the majority with
30% of the total.
Ojinaga, Chihuahua - Presidio, Texas Binational Drill, July 14, 2023 Reynosa, Tamaulipas - McAllen, Texas Binational Drill, July 14, 2023
First Responder Operation (FRO), First Responder Awareness (FRA), and incident Command System
(ICS) Trainings
EPA Region 9 supported numerous binational training and capacity building activities in Sister Cities across
the border, training over 300 responders. From April 18-22, 2022, 37 responders in the Mexicali, Baja
California region participated in training opportunities for FRO, FRA, and ICS. Participants included state
police personnel from Mexicali, Ensenada, and Tijuana; Firefighters from Mexicali; several local emergency
call center operators; safety workers from several maquiladoras, and others.
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Highlights Report Summer 2024
From September 26-30, 2022, 82 individuals participated from the Mexicali fire department, maquiladoras,
the State Health Department, Federal Attorney General for Environmental Protection (PROFEPA, acronym
in Spanish), and others. From November 14-18, 2022, 72 participants from 13 different agencies; city,
state, federal and maquiladoras were trained.
In Santa Ana, Sonora FRO, FRA, and ICS courses were offered from July 17-21, 2023. In total, 137 personnel
participated across the sessions. Trainees included firefighters from Santa Ana and Magdalena de Kino as
well as the State Fire Office; Red Cross crews from Santa Ana and Benjamin Hill; emergency management
personnel from the State Office, Santa Ana and Benjamin Hill; the National Guard (i.e., Federal Highway
Police); and local public safety officers.
Photos of the Mexicali Training in April (left) and September (right)
Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) Trainings
On September 28 - 30, 2022 and October 26 - 30, 2022, EPA Region 6 Border Staff and Superfund Staff
worked with state counterparts at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to organize
virtual Spanish-language HAZWOPER trainings for emergency response personnel in the Mexican states of
Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, Tamaulipas, Sonora. Approximately, 175 Mexican response personnel
completed the course and approximately 114 Mexican completed the second course. Attendees included
staff from Federal Attorney General for Environmental Protection (PROFEPA, acronym in Spanish),
National Coordination for Civil Protection (CNPC, acronym in Spanish), Mexico's State Civil Protection of
Sonora, emergency response personnel from numerous Mexican border cities, industry or maquiladoras,
members of the CLAM (Comite Local de Ayuda Mutua, acronym in Spanish). The trainings were funded by
EPA's Superfund1 Division through its START2 contract.
1 Superfund is a program administered by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S.EPA) that identifies and
cleans sites that have been contaminated by a high level of toxic wastes.
2 Technical contractor.
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Highlights Report Summer 2024
On October 19 - 21, EPA Region 6 Border Staff and Superfund Staff worked with state counterparts at the
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to organize a virtual English-language HAZWOPER
virtual training for U.S. border fire department and law enforcement personnel in New Mexico and Texas.
Approximately, 40 response personnel completed the course. The offering was funded by EPA's Superfund
Division through its START contract.
To comply with Objective 3 of Goal 4: Improve joint preparedness in response to hazardous environmental
emergencies to strengthen response personnel training, between 2021 - September 2023, a total of 13
training activities were carried out in the sister cities along the U.S.-Mexico Border. Some of the trainings
were binational and were preceded by the binational field notifications.
As in the case of the drills, in addition to the training carried out in the sister cities, the remaining
municipalities along the U.S.-Mexico border, PROFEPA supported 125 training activities (seminars,
workshops, talks, etc.) carried out by the national public and private sectors and prior to drills in the field.
Like the drills, the State of Tamaulipas delivered about 37% of the total trainings, the largest number
delivered in the border region.
Sister City Training in Reynosa, July 2023 Training by the private sector in the border area of the Santa Cruz, Sonora
municipality, July 2023
El Paso/Ciudad Juarez Hazardous Materials Grant and Training
The City of El Paso, Texas received funding from the U.S.-Mexico Border Program to improve joint
preparedness for response to hazardous environmental emergencies among first responders in the Paso
del Norte (El Paso, Texas/Dona Ana County, New Mexico/Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua) region. Through the
project, 104 U.S. and Mexican responders received virtual and hands-on training on the MAGNASEAL Leak
Patch kit, which was also acquired through the Border 2020 grant. The MAGNASEAL Leak Patch kit, serves
to mitigate chemical leaks from transportation vessels in a more efficient manner than traditional
methods. Through this project, emergency responders from the fire departments in El Paso, Ciudad Juarez,
Sunland Park, and Ysleta del Sur Pueblo were able to continue to strengthen their relationships and skills
to address environmental hazards as they relate to railcar incidences within the region. A video produced
from the hands-on training can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30mla2BfkpcC
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Highlights Report Summer 2024
El Paso, Texas and Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua first responders during training exercise in May 2021
Eagle Pass Train Derailment Exercise
In April 2023, the EPA, Federal Attorney of Environmental Protection (PROFEPA, acronym in Spanish), the
National Coordination for Civil Protection (CNPC, acronym in Spanish), along with the City of Eagle Pass,
Texas and Piedras Negras, Coahuila hosted a two-day event, attended by 60 binational stakeholders, to
build partnership capacity and provide training for emergency responders. The first day included a
workshop to learn more about federal, state, and local agency communications and coordination that go
into supporting binational emergency response incidents. On the second day a binational tabletop exercise
was held to test the local agencies' abilities to respond to a binational incident affecting the communities
of Eagle Pass, Texas and Piedras Negras, Coahuila as described in the local Sister-City Joint Contingency
Plan. Lastly, EPA Region 6 responders provided local fire personnel training on air quality monitoring, as
well as training on rail response provided by Union Pacific and BNSF Railway. Overall, the event included
staff from EPA Region 6, EPA Office of Emergency Management, Mexico's Civil Protection (federal, state,
and local), PROFEPA, City of Eagle Pass, City of Piedras Negras, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
(TCEQ), BNSF Railway, Union Pacific.
Emergency Response Training to Eagle Pass, Texas and Piedras Negras, Coahuila first responders in April 2023
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Highlights Report Summer 2024
Additional Border Projects
Mapping the General Urban Heat and Identifying Urban Heat Island Spots in El Paso, Texas
The City of El Paso was selected for the 2020 Urban Heat Island (UHI) Mapping campaign sponsored by the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in collaboration with Climate Adaptation
Planning Analytics (CAPA) Strategies, This project was supplemented with U.S.-MX Border Program funding
to focus on a community initiative aimed at providing a better understanding of the UHI effect in El Paso.
On July 10, 2020, 41 volunteers collected 66,419 temperature and humidity measurements at 6 AM, 3 PM,
and 7 PM. This data was used by CAPA Strategies to generate maps depicting heat fluctuations in certain
parts of the city throughout that day. A 17.5 degrees maximum differential was found in the study, which
reflects the need to address urban heat issues in El Paso. The project team hosted two hybrid workshops
with over 50 community members and stakeholders to improve the understanding of the relationship
between heat parameters and health interventions. These maps will serve as a tool for city staff for future
urban planning decisions. Results from the 2020 Heat Watch campaign can be downloaded at:
https://osf.io/fn4t8/ Through this link, the heat map below can be accessed.
Urban heat mop of El Paso County, Texas. July 2020
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Highlights Report Summer 2024
Transboundary Water Conservation Project: Our Water, Our Future
The objective of this project was to promote and encourage
a cultural awareness of protecting and conserving drinking
water sources of Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua. This was
accomplished through the development of permanent
interactive display in the museum, La Rodadora Espacio
Interactivo, supported through a partnership with the
Ciudad Juarez Municipal Water and Wastewater Utility (JMAS, acronym in Spanish), and the Secretary of
Education of the state of Chihuahua, as well as several outreach activities.
^rodadora
espacio interactive
Due to the Coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) pandemic, initial outreach
activities towards the schools (teachers and students) and public took
place through virtual training and the museum's Facebook page.
Through various videos developed for Facebook and other social
media platforms and online "live" interactions, the project team
reached over 229,966 persons. The project team provided education
virtually to over 547 school children and 200 educators from 85
public schools throughout the city. When the museum finally opened
to the public, the exhibit was visited by over 49,938 community
members.
&|—SI-
Current Ongoing Additional Border Projects
Improving Children's Environmental Health in Hidalgo County:
Texas A&M University, School of Public Health received funding to conduct a project to increase knowledge
on reducing children's environmental exposure to lead in Hidalgo County, Texas Head Start Centers. The
training will be provided to staff personnel and parents of children enrolled in these centers. The lead
curriculum will be distributed through a virtual platform to 30 Head Start Center directors, staff, and
parents in Hidalgo County; 15 Childcare Centers directors and staff; and 100 Community Health Workers
in the Hidalgo area. The curriculum will be certified by the Texas Department of State Health Services
(DSHS). In addition to developing an electronic lead curriculum, the project aims to also develop a
curriculum on climate change and its adverse effects on minority communities, the environment and
overall public health. The development of the climate change educational material will be accomplished
using already published resources.
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Highlights Report Summer 2024
Tohono O'odham Nation Air Quality and Environmental Health State Environmental Justice Community
Agreement (SEJCA) project:
The Tohono O'odham Nation will use the State Environmental Justice Cooperative Agreement funding to
develop an air quality plan for the Nation. Due to existing elevated asthma and other respiratory issues
within the Nation's population, a major component of the plan will reduce dust impacts by prioritizing
upgrades on 15 miles of locally tribally controlled dirt roads. In addition, funds will be used to develop
educational resources and conduct outreach for planting native vegetation along roadsides to mitigate air
pollution. Elders will lead sessions that combine related air quality topics with traditional ecological
knowledge while Tohono O'odham youth will be recruited to monitor, assess, and work within their
communities and families to further develop local aspects of the air quality plan.
Air and Health Surveillance System, Mexicali-lmperial Valley:
This project supports REDSPIRA. the Secretaria de Salud (Health State agency in Mexico) and other on-the-
ground partners to do a GIS-based analysis of existing sensor and monitoring particulate matter (PM2.5)
data, population information and health data from medical facilities in Mexicali/lmperial Valley to
determine the relative vulnerability of the population and use information to guide the development of a
public health outreach campaign for nearby communities.
EPA Publication Number: 160R23001
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